• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Double Bass Why No Acme Bass Cab Users???

#21
Touch said:
...I'm an "upright only" guy who...
Click to expand...
...has a slabby avatar... Just an observation! :hiding:
tunnelworld said:
I have been using a B-2 for over 6 years and have never found anything else like it for my tastes. ...
I think a lot of it comes down to picking something you think sounds good and then working with it so you understand what the capabilities of the gear are.
Click to expand...
Yes, tastes differ. Finding good gear and then working to understand its capabilities makes sense to me.
tornadobass said:
Remember, load in/out is only a few minutes...the gig is a few hours. I'd rather enjoy my sound during the longer period of time.
Click to expand...
Lucky for you and your minutes.
Yes, needs differ. My load ins/outs can last for hours if not half a day. Several schlepps amongst multiple ferry rides, taxi rides, immigration and security-check queues, train rides and yet more schlepping. I'd rather find a happy compromise between sound and portability, because for me the schlepp can be often longer than the gig. My rig sounds better than any venue's house-rig I've played, and thus far my 25lb package fits all my needs -- for tonality, price and portability.

Nonetheless, I always welcome the opportunity to try others rigs, such as a friend's GBenz, which sounded great with DB. Any Acme users in HK willing to let me try it?
 
#23
Feral Feline said:
...has a slabby avatar... Just an observation! :hiding:
Click to expand...


Um....I was an upright only guy when I wrote that post 7 years ago! :rollno: Doing more "fly to" gigs now when I can't bring my upright. Plus my good friend Josh got some great photos at a festival we just played.

Interesting that changing one's avatar changes it on all past posts! Maybe I should switch mine more often and really keep things interesting!

In the spirit of contributing to this "zombie" thread...I still use my Acme B2 plenty on upright and occasionally slab bass. I just did a SW tour with it. I am now using a Genz Benz Shuttle 9.0 to power it. I really like this little 4 pound amp. A slightly different tone than the EA iAMP 500 I was using but the 900 W into 4 ohms is just right for the B2. This is a great amp for DB. I think the Shuttle 9.0 and a B2 are perfect for everything but the loudest DB shows.

I do find the SPL efficiency of the B2 lacking but that is the engineering trade in getting response so low in a small box. I am playing more and more REALLY loud stages and for those I use my LDS 2x12 (Neo) cabinet since it gets significantly louder than the B2. It is quite a bit larger however.

Those new 12" cabinets from Andy do look interesting.
 
#25
Feral Feline said:
Lucky for you and your minutes.
Yes, needs differ. My load ins/outs can last for hours if not half a day. Several schlepps amongst multiple ferry rides, taxi rides, immigration and security-check queues, train rides and yet more schlepping. I'd rather find a happy compromise between sound and portability, because for me the schlepp can be often longer than the gig. My rig sounds better than any venue's house-rig I've played, and thus far my 25lb package fits all my needs -- for tonality, price and portability.
Click to expand...

I must have written that several years ago. My gigs have gotten smaller, quieter and less frequent...still a short schlep, though.

I've gotten by recently with an EA Micro and a Wizzy 10...a rig that has the sound I'm after as well as the portability my aging back enjoys :hmm:
 
#26
Sorry Lords & Ladies, but Hey! Wasn't me who resurrected the dead, ahm, thread. I gotta remember to check past the most recent post...

So Touch, did you start on BG, go to DB and then back? Or did you start on DB and start doubling?

I ask because I may have to start doubling and I've only just started DB and don't play BG, yet. Oh, and that GBShuttle9 has serious drool factor all over it. I played my slab friend's GBShuttleMax6, one with the tube preamp and FET. He doesn't use the FET at all. Sounded good with my DB, so I considered the Shuttle9, but a deal on a Micro300 and Wizzy 10 came my way. More than enough for my current needs... and I have a back like TornadoBass's. If all goes well, I might be shopping for a GB9 as well.
 
#27
I've been an upright only guy the last 15 years or so. I've had electric basses that whole time but always seemed to get the call for the upright. I've started doubling given our "fly-to" gigs, a small van for the trio and our new tunes that have a more electric feel.
 
#28
TinRoof said:
Just bought a B-1 with the newest "upgrades" and using an EA iamp200 with it. I'll let you guys know how I think it sounds once I break it in. Jazzdog..acme's are kinda tough to hear before buying, as you probably know, due to most people haven't ever seen one or even heard OF them. The shop I teach in is going to get at least one sometime soon, so once it happens i'll check it out thoroughly.
Click to expand...

Can you please share reactions now that you've played this configuration for a while? Thank you.
 
#30
Ukiah Bass said:
Would a Euphonic Audio iAmp Pro be too much amp for the B1? I think it puts out 600 watts at 8ohm and 1200 at 4ohm. One could dial the preamp volume to 1 and keep master low, but the question is would this be enough to not damage the driver?
Click to expand...

A bit of moderation and common sense will normally allow the safe use of a head that is rated to put out more power than a given cab is rated for. :cool:
 
#31
I used one of the new Acme 1-12'' cabs recently and was VERY impressed.

The short review I posted on here did not get much action:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=694027&highlight=

It would be nice to see a comparison between this Acme cab, the new cab from Lemur (Onyx) and the Audiokinesis cab.

I gig a lot in many instrumentation configurations and the short time I had the cab (it was on loan from a friend) it received lots of compliments from bassist and non-bassists, many of whom only play "acoustic" music. Also, you could "one-hand" the cab and your bass on the way into the gig, which is nice.

Most of the guys I know who had the older models liked them at first and then switched to AI. I can't vouch for those models but the new Acme 1-12" is a great cab for upright.
 
#32
I used B1s for upright for years. I think they sound the best. I have been using an EA Wizzy 10 and AI cabs because they are substantially lighter. They sound good but I think the Acme wins on sound. The B1 isn't all that heavy at 31 lbs but when you have back problems 10 lbs lighter is huge.
 
#33
Ukiah,
Alright here's my 2 1/2 cents on the B-1 with my iamp200 from EA and K&K Bassmax PU and f-deck's 1st gen. pre.
When i first plugged in i "didn't here it." I asked my guitar player if he "heard" the amp and he said no but asked how did i get my bass louder(good sign). Now after about 6 months of use, i love it, but wish i had gotten the B-2 and a more powerful amp. I have had no problems at all with it and it sounds as natural as anything i have heard (minus the PU) The sound seems to diffuse in all directions rather than just in front, although i use it as a stage monitor only. It handles everything i can give it from the iamp200. It has "farted" a few times but i think that's when i was really driving the iamp, not because the cab can't take it. It's kinda funny to show up at gigs and most other bass players laugh at the small set-up until they hear it...then they are asking what is it and where can they get one.
my pennies worth.
 
#34
mchildree said:
Can't speak for everyone else, but any time I amplify, I don't want to hear AMP...I want the feeling that my bass just got bigger and louder. The Acmes project too much of a focused tone (I had a B2 and a B4) and centers your attention on the amp, not the bass.
Click to expand...

I'll bet that this is because of the extended bandwidth of the cabinet. If you were to roll off the top end, I expect that your complaint would vanish.
 
#36
The B-1 didn't work for me...for some of the reasons others actually like it. I thought it had too much bottom and not enough mids.

Seemed too inefficient with my Clarus as well.

In all, i had trouble being heard in my blues trio (upright, guitar, harp vocals). The Wizzy 10 has worked out much better for my needs.
 
#37
I've used if for a couple of DB gigs and love it for that but it does need a lot of juice.
I made the mistake of taking it and the MB200 to a five pc fusion/cover slab gig last night. Problem was I was late coming from another gig and didn't get into the PA until the set break. It had nuthin'.
So this morning I compared driving it with the MB200 to the GK150 and it wasn't pretty.
I was surprised that the little GK delivered a more solid punch and won in overall volume. It sounds great with 200 watts at low to medium volume but I'm thinking I should have kept the Markbass LMII.
 
#38
I'm a Low B2 user who is a complete fanatic. I've probably had a dozen or so top name brand cabs in all different sizes and configurations and none of them can come close to the sound and power of the Low B2. Maybe its because they are of such studio monitor "hifi" quality. Full range and percise definition is key to what make these cabs absolutely unbeatable in my book.
 
  • Like
Reactions: james condino
#40
I have bought and sold and blown up almost 20 different cabs in the last five years and through every one of them, I always wind up going back to a pair of B1s and a series 3 AI Focus head. On a couple of occasions, after hearing my brand new overpriced set of latest greatest cabs, the band actually made me go home and get the ACMEs during the set break! If they don't work for you, you'll likely never be satisfied, but when they do work for you, nothing else sounds like them. Feed them a LOT of power- twice what you would normally use. There is also a funny thing in that a pair of B1s works disproportionately better than a single.

The flatwound 12s made me sound like I was playing in an old school dub band- wayyyyyyyyyyy too much subs.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Greg Clinkingbeard

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back